Ground rod puller



Jan. 14, 1941. L, H|LL 2,228,826

enoimn ROD FULLER Filed June 6, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 fiowardl. H222. I

In venior v Jan 14, 1941. 2,228,826

GROUND ROD FULLER Filed June 6, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 In ventqr a Iffaw'drdl. E222.

Patented Jan. 14, 1941 UNITEDZVSTATESZ PATENT OFFICE' Howard Leroy Hill,Taft, Calif.

Application June 6, 1940, Serial No. 339,183

1 Claim.

The present invention relates to new and useful improvements in meansfor pulling metal rods such as are used for, grounding electric circuitsand has for its primary object to provide, in a manner as hereinafterset forth, a device whereby these rods may be expeditiously extractedwith a minimum of efiort.

Another very important object of the invention is to provide a puller ofthe aforementioned character embodying novel means for firmly grippingthe ground rod to be extracted.

Still another very important object of the invention is to provide aground rod puller of the character described comprising a constructionand arrangement which is such that the device may be convenientlyassembled and disassembled thereby greatly facilitating maintaining thedevice in proper working order.

Other objects of the invention are to provide an electric ground rodpuller which will be comparatively simple in construction, strong,durable, highly efficient and reliable in use, compact, light in weightand which may be manufactured at low cost.

All of the foregoing and still further objects and advantages of theinvention will become apparent from a study of the followingspecification, taken in connection with the accompanying drawingswherein like characters of reference designate corresponding partsthroughout the several views, and wherein:

Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of a ground rod-puller constructedin accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the device.

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view, taken substantially on the line3-3 of Fig. 1.

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view, taken substantially on the line4-4 of Fig. 2.

Figure 5 is a View in horizontal section, taken substantially on theline 5-5 of Fig. 1.

Figure 6 is a top plan view of the slips.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, it will be seen that theembodiment of the invention which has been illustrated comprises asubstantially rectangular base I of sutiable metal. Rising from the baseI is a cylinder 2 which is open at its upper end. A brace 3 is providedfor the cylinder 2. An opening 4 in the base I, which accommodates therod to be extracted, communicates with the cylinder 2.

Extending outwardly and upwardly from an upper portion of the cylinder 2is a bifurcated bracket 5. Pivotally mounted between the bifurcations ofthe bracket 5 for swinging movement in a vertical plane, through themedium of a pin or the like 6, is a lever I. On the rear end of thelever I is a socket 8 for the reception of one end portion of aremovable operating handle 9. On the forward end of the lever I is afork l0.

Mounted for reciprocation in the cylinder 2 is a piston which isdesignated generally by the reference numeral H. The piston ll comprisesa reduced. head l2 having formed therein a cen trally located opening13. The head I2 is further 10 provided, in its side portions, withparallel grooves or channels l4 (see Fig. 5). The grooves or channels l4accommodate the reduced lower end portions I5 of a pair of connectingrods 16 which are pivotally secured therein by bolts ll. 15 At theirupper ends, the connecting rods l6 terminate in bifurcations l8 whichstraddle the arms of the fork It] and which are pivotally connectedthereto by bolts l9. Thus, the piston II is connected to the lever l foractuation thereby. 20

The piston l I still further includes an internally threaded skirt 29.Threadedly mounted in the skirt 20 and depending therefrom forreciprocation in the cylinder 2 with the piston H is an internallytapered slip socket 2|. The reference 25 numeral 22 designates a pair ofexternally tapered slips which are mounted in the socket 2|. The rodengaging faces of the coacting slips 22 are roughened or toothed, as at23. The slips 22 further include substantially conical lower 30 portions24 to facilitate the introduction of the rod therebetween.

It is thought that the manner of using the device will be readilyapparent from a consideration of the foregoing. Briefly, the device isplaced in 35 working position over the ground rod to be extracted, saidrod passing upwardly through the opening it between the slips 22 whichconstitute gripping jaws. The opening it permits a portion of the rod topass upwardly through the pis- 40 ton l Now, when the handle 9 is swungdownwardly the piston H with the socket 2! are elevated in the cylinder2. Thus, the slips 22 firmly grip the rod in an obvious manner forextracting same. Of course, the longer the lever 9, the great- 45 er theleverage that may be had for removing the rod. If desired, a new hold orgrip may be had on the rod by simply swinging the handle 9 upwardly. Itwill be observed that the construction and arrangement is such that thepiston II with 5 the slip socket 2| thereon may be conveniently removedfrom the cylinder 2 for repairing or replacing any of the parts.

It is believed that the many advantages of an electric ground rod pullerconstructed in ac- 55 cordance with the present invention will bereadily understood and although a preferred embodiment of the device isas illustrated and described, it is to be understood that changes in thedetails of construction and in the combination and arrangement of partsmay be resorted to which will fall within the scope of the invention asclaimed.

What is claimed is:

A ground rod puller of the character described comprising a base, acylinder rising from the base, said base having an opening thereincommunicating with the cylinder for the passage of a rod to beextracted, a bracket on the cylinder, a lever pivotally mounted on saidbracket, a socket member on one end of the lever for the reception of ahandle, a fork on the other end of said lever, a piston slidable in thecylinder and including a reduced head having an opening therein foraccommodating the rod, the reduced head further having parallel channelstherein, a pair of connecting rods having one end pivotally connected tothe fork and their other ends pivotally secured in the channels, thepiston further including an internally threaded skirt, a removable,internally tapered socket threadedly connected to the skirt, and aplurality of slips operatively mounted in said socket and adapted togrip the rod.

HOWARD L. HILL.

